Actiu headquarters a "model of healthy industrial architecture"
Promotion: Spanish furniture brand Actiu's headquarters, nestled in the mountains of Castalla, Spain, is a bioclimatic industrial campus where architecture, landscape and health "operate as a single system".
Designed by architect José María Tomás Llavador in 2008 as an exemplar of responsible architecture, Actiu's headquarters is the only industrial facility in the world to hold both LEED Platinum certification and WELL Platinum certification.
According to Actiu, the building was made possible through the collaboration with Vicent Berbegal, founder and chairman of Actiu, whose sustainability philosophy and understanding of the Mediterranean environment helped shape the project from its inception.
The campus's functions were divided into three. A trio of 13,000-square-metre production buildings is set away from an 18,000-square-metre logistics building, which is connected to the 6,000-square-metre office building.
Each building was designed to maximise natural light and ventilation where possible, with a cross-ventilation system to reduce the need for air conditioning.
Visual openness and acoustic comfort were also prioritised to reduce stress, enhance cognitive performance and support creativity and emotional wellbeing.
Glazed facades across the site "dissolve the boundaries between indoors and outdoors" while restorative spaces, interior gardens and cross-ventilated areas were added to foster a strong connection between people, architecture and nature.
The structures each have a well-insulated thermal envelope and are topped with a network of gutter beams to collect rainwater, which is used to water the extensive planting on the site.
In total, 5,000 native plants – olive trees, rosemary, lavender, thyme, Aleppo pine and palm hearts – were planted around the buildings to create a lush landscape adapted for the Mediterranean climate.
Actiu explained that by testing these principles within its own headquarters, it has translated its scientific research into tangible spatial solutions.
This research-led approach also informed the development of its products, such as the Qyos acoustic pods, which it describes as "micro-architectures" created to reduce stress and improve concentration through acoustic isolation and sensory comfort.
According to Actiu, the result is a "model of healthy industrial architecture" with its headquarters becoming an international benchmark for landscape integration.
Actiu explained that when industrial buildings were still largely designed around efficiency alone, its headquarters proposed an alternative model centred on environmental quality, human comfort and long-term wellbeing.
"Long before workplace wellbeing became a global design priority or WELL certification standards were introduced, the campus had already been conceived around principles such as natural light, air quality, visual comfort and the relationship between people and nature, positioning the Technology Park as an early example of healthy industrial architecture in Spain," said Actiu.
"Rather than functioning solely as a manufacturing site, the Technology Park was conceived as an integrated ecosystem where production, architecture, landscape and human wellbeing coexist."
This was first recognised officially in 2017 when the campus was awarded LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council. Two years later, it was awarded WELL Platinum, making it the only industrial headquarters in the world certified with both seals.
"The Technology Park was a turning point for Actiu," said Actiu director and head of brand reputation Soledat Berbegal.
"It marked the beginning of a new era in which sustainability ceased to be a dream and became a tangible reality," he continued.
"Seventeen years later, the building continues to evolve with us: it is a living space that reflects our culture, our commitment to people and the environment, and which clearly contributes to consolidating Actiu as a brand with purpose."
Since the building was completed, Actiu has aimed to continue improving how it operates, which was recognised by its sustainable certifications. This is further demonstrated by its latest WELL audit, in 2024, which saw it raise its score from 82 to 90 points.
In addition, the company's overall ethos was further recognised last year when Actiu became a certified B Corp.
"For Actiu, the certification is external validation of an industrial model that prioritises energy efficiency, the circular economy, the use of responsible materials and the creation of quality employment in its local environment," said the brand.
"B Corp certification fits naturally into Actiu's identity as a brand with a purpose. Beyond the product and architecture, the organisation works from the conviction that design can transform people's lives and generate a lasting positive impact."
To learn more about Actiu, visit its website.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Actiu as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
The post Actiu headquarters a "model of healthy industrial architecture" appeared first on Dezeen.
